Dear Amanda,

I've received a request or two from a certain individual (who will remain nameless) to please post pictures of the house now that I've moved in. Unfortunately, I broke my camera last year and I've been using my phone to take all of the beautiful pictures that I have been posting. It worked fine for construction but I actually need a real camera now ... most of my pictures came out very dark and were unusable. Here are a few that came out okay enough to post. I will try to borrow a camera soon so I can document the rest of the house for those who are unable to come for visit. I have to say the house is beautiful. Please stop by to see it if you are in the neighborhood!

This is a quality picture of my patio. Let me just say, it is hard to take photos with a phone. Yea, we'll say that is why the picture is crooked, not because of my photo-skillz. But onto the picture ... I've never been able to have plants before so I've gone a little crazy this summer. So far everything is still living, despite some saying I seem like the type of person who would kill plants. Again, I won't mention names, Mom. Also, I tend to be attracted to every poisonous plant out there. Not good because my dog's tongue is also attracted to the plants. Guess I need to start doing a little more research on plants before I go shopping.

Another shot of the patio. Frankly, it is the most decorated "room" of the house.



A wonderful view of the foyer, living room, and kitchen. Sadly, I had to retire the coffee table last night. Rigby chewed a corner off and will not stop trying to destroy the rest of it. I read too many stories of splinters poking through dog's intestines that I couldn't keep it around. Lawyers. Can't let them read anything, gives them too many ideas. Luckily for the pup, I bought the table many years ago for a small amount of money. Otherwise, he'd be in BIG trouble.

The entertainment center. I'm slowly getting around to actually putting items where they belong. Brooke came over last week, prior to my housewarming, to help make my entertainment center presentable. Thanks, Brooke. It looks great.

We Moved

And by we, I mean me and the dog. :) I haven't taken any pictures of the house since we moved in but here are two of Rigby. One where he is enjoying the backyard. The other where he is not so sure about being outside by himself -- I was sitting outside when I took the picture of the one where he is happy to be out there! I know, he is spoiled.



Um, where did you go?


Are they ever going to remove this stake that is blocking my view?

Moving on Up to the East Side ... of BR

I am really, truly moving tomorrow. There are still a few things that need to be done around the house, i.e. the backsplash, grouting the tile around the fireplace, putting up the clothing rods in my closet, and a few other things. These are all things Andrews swears he will do. I just think we have different timelines in mind. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Rigby is getting a "haircut"(what the groomer called it, not me) so that he will be all clean for his new house. The movers will be at my house for 9, if not earlier. I have furniture being delivered, and Conn's is coming back to install my washer/dryer. It will be chaotic, but I can't wait. There have been a few changes around the house in the last few weeks. The island lights were finally lowered, the tiles were put around the fireplace, and the shutters went up. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to take a picture of the front of the house since the shutters went up, but here are pictures of the fireplace and the kitchen. Hopefully, I will have a chance Sunday to post a few pictures post-move.


This tile is also part of my backsplash. It will be the decorative element over the range -- The rest of the backsplash tile is a tumbled travertine look in a very neutral color. One day.


Looks like I already moved in with all the stuff on the counters!

By the Power of the EBR Permit & Inspection Office...

My house passed final inspection today!!! I cannot wait to get electricity and start moving. Yesterday, I waited at my house from 11-2 for Conn's to deliver my appliances. They showed up at 2:05. I have to say it wasn't that uncomfortable inside the house without A/C. Someone must have made sure my house is well insulated. I called Demco today to see when power would be turned on. Could be between 1-3 business days. I'm hoping it is 1. There are a few things that still need to happen before everything is complete: backsplash, rest of fence, sod backyard. But that is about it. And I guess by the time all of that is finished, I will need to REclean the house. Too bad I already paid to get it cleaned! Can't wait for everyone to see the house in person. I'm now thinking I will start moving in this weekend but will probably wait to officially move the first weekend in June.

Waiting on the final inspection, again

I ended up not moving this weekend. The house was inspected last wednesday, and it did not pass. The legs of the mantle were 5 inches from the fireplace opening, EBR wants 6. The problem is being fixed tomorrow (for inspection); hopefully, it will pass. If so, I should have electricity by Thursday. After that, I will slowly start moving in. The front yard was finished last week, and the fence is close to being finished. Here are the latest pictures...



This is my backyard. Rigby isn't too crazy about cats. Not sure what he is going to think about geese. Luckily, there will be a fence back there. Certainly don't need him to decide to be a hunter.



The awning has been fixed, sod is down, and the landscaping looks great. The garage door still needs to be painted the same color as the trim. And the stickers need to be removed from the dormer window. Any volunteers for that one?

Cleaning Day

Okay, I posted this page last night, but I had a few problems. For starters, somehow I managed to sign myself out of my account and I lost about half of what I hadwritten. Which leads to my next (and last) problem. My dog, who is lucky he is so very cute, thinks it is fun to eat keys off of my mom's keyboard. He started with the number 4 key. I guess when he realized we don't use the number 4 very often, he decided to move on to bigger, and more useful, keys. Like the letter "O." You don't realize how often you use the letter O while you are typing, until you have to resort to using a pencil to get the letter to work (12 O's in this sentence by the way. think of how long that would take typing with a pencil!). I am pretty sure Rigby had a plan when he did all of this. Like, if they can't type, they can't use the computer, and I will get even more attention. Or maybe he thinks we don't give him enough snacks and that plastic keys are yummy. Luckily, he has not actually swallowed any keys yet. Anyway, my point was that once I realized I lost half of the post after already dealing with the letter O situation, I decided to wait to re-update. And on to the house ... yesterday the house was cleaned. Inside. The yard is still another story. Landscaping has started, but sod is coming soon. The house is beautiful and I cannot wait to make it my home. As of right now, I intend on closing on the 21st, moving on the 22nd, and unpacking every day thereafter. Anyone off on Memorial Day, feel free to stop by. I'll be there.

Front. The garage door went up yesterday. I had posted a picture of that too, prior to logging out. The garage door still needs to be painted the same color as the trim and the awning still needs to be angled. Right now you can't even see it. Other than that, it looks great!



Travis put a small flower bed in the back of the house. Knockout roses, pink, of course.


The foyer. It is difficult to get a good picture of the foyer because of the glare from the front door.

Finally, the french doors are in. If only the doorknobs were on too.


The french doors open. I cannot wait for the day when I have electricity and I can see just how bright the office is.


Front Bedroom...carpet is in. I thought I had a picture of my bedroom but I guess it didn't save -- what happens when you use your phone as a camera.




Hall Bath.


Master Bath.


Kitchen. Everything is painted now. I am leaving it like it is, at least right now. Maybe I'll antique the cabinets myself if I ever get bored. The lights still need to be lowered. It is on the punch list. The light that is going above the sink has been on backorder but it finally came in this week. And the faucet for the farmhouse sink was stolen last week, but the new one came in yesterday. Now, just waiting on the plumber to come finish everything. Then, I can get electricity, after a final inspection of course.



The mantle has been stained, or varnished, whatever they do to cypress. Andrew will be putting the tiles around the fireplace soon. He says he is waiting for power. Can't blame him. It is really hot all of a sudden. I am so ready for everything to be finished though.

Wood Floors

The wood floors went in Wednesday. I didn't get to go out there until late in the evening, so the pictures are a little dark. The floor is pretty dirty also. Can't wait for them to be cleaned.


Living Room

Kitchen. The island is still red, but that should change next week. The butcher block is finally going in today. I'll get pictures this weekend. The chandeliers will also be lowered. The electrician said he put them that high so that when people sat at the counter the lights wouldn't be in their view. Guess he knows some really tall people.

Dining Room

Moving Along

I know its been a while since I've updated. At this point, it is getting hard to get pictures that do the house justice. Here is a list of what has gone in recently: most of the plumbing fixtures, bathroom mirrors, and the wood floors (should be finished today or tomorrow). The butcher block countertop for the island is going in tomorrow. The cabinet and door hardware, along with the bathroom accessories, are also going in this week. The awning was put on yesterday, but it is basically horizontal at the moment. They should be fixing it soon. Once they do, I'll put a picture up. At the moment, you can't really tell anything is there until you are right under it. Not exactly what I was going for, especially since I sprung for copper. Other than that, there isn't much left to do. The appliances need to be installed, the painter comes back to finish up, the garage door, carpet and then the yard/fence. I can't wait for everyone to see it.

Hall Bath. Once the cabinet knobs are in, I'll put a new pic.


Vanity in Master Bath.


Second Vanity in Master Bath

The foyer light. This thing is about 3 times bigger than I expected. I love it, but it is a statement. Good thing it is right next to the pink office.

Countertops

Yesterday, the countertops went in. I only took one picture while I was there, and it is of the kitchen sink. The cabinets actually look pretty good with the granite, but I still think the glazing needs to be toned down. The bathrooms look great, but there is still plastic sheeting over the countertops. I want to remove it, but I think I will wait for all the workers to finish destroying the place before I do that. I will be going back tomorrow and I'll probably take more pictures then.

Lights...

So, this week started off well. The mantle is up now. Demco finally ran the underground electrical line. That means the driveway and sidewalk will be poured next week. I need to come up with how I want all of that done -- I know I don't want a solid mass of concrete in the front. If anyone has suggestions, send them my way. The tile went in, the gutters went up (or maybe that was last week). Either way, things were going well. Until the lights. Which I should have known were going to involve a little drama. The sales lady has been flaky since the day after I met with her -- when she was supposed to send me an estimate, which I finally got 2 weeks later. Should. Have. Known. Really, everything is pretty much okay now, but there was a moment when I had to quickly run to Notoco and get all new ceiling fans, light kits, and downrods (except the one in the living room). The pendant light over the sink in the kitchen is on backorder. It is really cute, so I'm bummed about that. Still, I'm glad it is that light instead of something like the dining or foyer lights. That would stink! One of the vanity lights for the master bath is not at the house, but I am hoping either we over looked it or it somehow didn't make it on the truck today. Anyway, some of the lights have gone up. I'll be going out there tomorrow at some point to see the rest of the progress. See for yourself...


Another picture of the office. Better view. The office will have wood floors, just another element that will warm it up (along with the second coat of paint)


Ceiling fans that are in the spare bedrooms


Tile in the Master Bath. Honestly, I had narrowed it down to this one and a different one. I thought I went with the other one, but this one is darker so it probably worked out for the best -- we all know I'm not the quickest to clean floors.


Dining Room light. It is one of my favorite -- along with my foyer light, but it isn't up yet.

Outside fan. The beadboard on the ceiling will be stained when the painter comes back.


The latest view of the front -- gutters.


The front lights.

The mantle. It still needs to be stained, but I love it! The outlet has since been moved to be on the mantle. A little communication breakdown there. But it has been fixed.

Blush, Bashful, and Begonia

Will my office look like it has been hosed down with Pepto-Bismal when all is said and done? Maybe. I'm okay with that. Things are continuing to move along at the house. The painter has been very busy the last week. I love the colors, although they do not show up well on camera. I think the pictures make the rooms look pretty grey, but they are really more of a green shade. Just something you have to see in person. And after tonight, you'll have to get in through me (or someone else with a key). Too many people have been stopping by to help themselves to a look around. Oh, and a few buckets of paint. I went to Lowe's today at lunch to buy temporary locks to keep the lil' bad kids out.

The painter was doing a few 'samples' of the cabinets for me. Apparently that meant he was going to paint ALL of the cabinets and then see what I thought of the finishes. Guess he just really likes to paint. Or likes the fumes. Who knows? That said, I was not crazy about the way the kitchen cabinets came out. So, eventually, the finish on the kitchen cabinets will be toned down a little, and the island will certainly not stay red.

The front door has been stained. Exciting! For me.


My bedroom and bath.



Kitchen. Mighty glare. The crown molding isn't up every where in the kitchen yet. The color looks really good with the cypress cabinets.


The island really throws me off but the point really is the wall color.


The kitchen cabinets (right now). They will be toned down. Right now they remind me of something that would be in Miss Havisham's house.



Master Bath. The spare bedrooms are the same color.



Master Bath. I wish the color showed up better.


Bedroom

"Andrew's Bedroom"

The office. This is only after one coat, so it should tone down a little. I don't care. I love it! Eventually, french doors will be up.

A little paint

The first coat of paint is going up right now. I went by the house at lunch to sneak a peak. Most of the pictures came out too dark, but one or two came out okay. It is still hard to tell what the paint will look like once all coats are on and the trim is painted, but so far so good.


Master Bedroom.


Living Room

More Cabinets

The upper kitchen cabinets went in today. They look great. I can't wait to see them finished. The entertainment center also went in but the crown molding isn't up yet on it. The painter was priming everything when I went by. I hope to see some color on the walls the next time I go out there.



Corner cabinets. The fridge will go to the far left, the micro/range will be in the space under the small cabinets.


The pantry.


The entertainment center...it looks a little strange to me in the picture, but i thought it looked really good in person.

A better view of where the fridge and micro/range will be.